Sat, Oct 10, 2020 4:14 PM
STEM Must Be Modernized
I agree that today's students no longer show an interest in STEM fields. Years ago it was not uncommon to hear someone say they wanted to be an Astronaut or a scientist. You did a wonderful job of showing how our students lack the drive to focus on careers that are STEM related. Though I agree that our lack of engaging STEM curriculum is part of the problem, I believe it is also not a validated career in our current society. Today's children spend much of their time on video games and watching television. Many of those shows are geared toward the current trend in careers. They go to fields that are familiar to them. Films like Avenger's are great examples of what television producers could be using to gain interest in STEM fields. They fail to focus on the science and technology that cause so much engagement for students. These shows are loved by many, but they are also an opportunity that we are not taking. Shows like Sesame Street are no longer watched as frequently as superhero shows are. How could we change the view of a scientist from a man in a lab coat? We could look at the person who developed the hoverboard. My son's favorite is the man who invented Minecraft. It is an interesting story, and they can relate to it. We have to do more to gain interest using the very things that interest students. When we make the STEM careers visual and show fields that the students enjoy, they will gravitate toward them and be more engaged.